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Pocono News Section
I-Team: Pilot in Schuylkill Co. Crash Had Expired License
I-Team: Pilot in Schuylkill Co. Crash Had Expired License - Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 6:45PM EST
Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 @ 06:45pm EST
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY- The crash was horrifying and it happened during a charity event. The I-Team has learned federal investigators are questioning pilot Al Roman's license. He has more than 50 years of flying experience, but last Friday night his chopper went down in Barnesville, Schuylkill County.
Eyewitnesses say it was an unbelievable sight to see a helicopter plunging from the sky during a charity event. It happened at the Mountain Valley Golf Course near Mahanoy City.
Alvin Roman, who is in his 80s, and his friend Joseph Matteo, were dropping golf balls from about 100 feet up when something went wrong.
Roman was able to steer the chopper away from people on the ground. He slammed into the earth. He and Matteo suffered serous injuries are remains hospitalized.
The I-Team has confirmed that the F. A.A., the Federal Aviation Administration, has questions about the status of his license. An F. A.A. spokesman says a pilot must undergo a physical exam every three years. "According to our records, it shows Mr. Roman's physical exam in October of 2004.It would have expired in 2007," said the spokesman.
But he went on to say that if Mr. Roman did undergo a physical, he would have to show proof of it and forward that paperwork to the F. A.A.
Roman took off from the Hazleton Municipal Airport, where he is the fixed based operator of that airport. That means Roman runs the airport for the city, but the F. A.A says the status of his license would have no impact on his federal requirements to run this airport.
A spokesperson for the city confirms they too were informed by the F. A.A about the apparent expiration of Roman's pilot’s license.
Meanwhile Roman and his passenger remain hospitalized recovering from their injuries. | | |
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